Balancing means for aeroplanes.



H. E'. PARKER. BALANCING MEANS FOR AEROPLANES.

l l APPLICATION FILED OGT.15, 1910. 1,010,946, Patented Dec. 5,

H. P. PARKER.

BALANGING MEANS FOR ABROPLANES.

' APPLICATION FILED 00T.15, 1910.

Patented Dec. 5,'1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTUR/VEYS HAROLD FOSTER PARKER, OF DORCHESTER CENTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IBALANCING MEANS FOR AEROPLANES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicationled October 15, 1910. Serial No. 587,211.

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, HAROLD F. PARKER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Dorchester Center, inthe county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts', have invented a newand useful Balancing Means for Aeroplanes, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates generally to aeroplanes, and more particula-rly isdirected to an improvedbalancing means whereb)1 the machine may at alltimes retain its horizontal position, the same means being operable bythe aviator to effect changes in the direction of flight of the machinewhen in the air.

The object of'the invention is to provide means of the class describedwhich may be attached to any aeroplane in order to effect the resulthereinbefore set forth.

A further` object ofthe invention is to provide a simple and eiiicientdevice for balancing an aeroplane, as well as for steering purposes,which shall be efficient in operation and consist of few parts, therebylessening the chances of accident resulting from inoperativeness orcomplexity of the parts. c

My device comprises a swinging pendulum which is operatively connectedto two valves, one on each -side thereof. An air cylinder is locatedadjacent the top of the frame of the machine and central thereof,

f and a supply of air is provided, which, by

the operation of the pendulum controlled valves, may be admitted toeither side of a piston in the air cylinder, whereby the machine isbalanced, due to the control of the pivoted balancing planes by thispiston. In the accompanying sheets ofdrawings, I have set forththe-preferred form of my invention. It is obvious 'that many changes maybe made in the' form, .shape andsize of the parts, whereby -thedevicemay be adapted to aeroplanes of different construction.

In the drawings, similar characters vof reference indicate correspondingparts in all the figures, and in which- Y Figure 1 is an end view of abiplane with -my invention attached thereto and in operative relationwith tlz-e balancing lplanes at each end of the main planes; Fig. 2 is aver.

tical sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig' 1; Fig. 3 is a `horizontalsectional Viewv through the valves, showing the pendulum incross-section and the means of construction between the pendulum and thesliding valve plates, and Fig. 4 is an elevation partly in sectionshowing the application ofv my invention'to an aeroplane.

The flying machine to which I have applied my invention comprises upperand lower horizontal main planes l and 2, with pivoted side balancingplanes 3 and 4, the whole being held together by a suitable frameworkmade upof horizontal and vertical members 5 and 6.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4 (which represents .the balancingdevice shown in reduction in Fig. 1), I provide a framework comprisingmembers 7 and 8 with a transverse` part 9, the whole being attached tothe frame of the aeroplane by means of members 10 and 1l. Pivotallysupported from the center of the member 9 (which is in the centralvertical plane of the aeroplane), is a. pendulum'l2, provided with aweight 13 having a swlnging movement in the opening-14' of thetransverse frame member l5, which extends between the inclined members.7 and 8 and is attached thereto. l

Adjacent the top of the machinewand balanced -with respect thereto, isan air-tight cylinder 16, having a piston 17 'with opposltely-extendingrods 18 and 19 connected thereto. Each end member of the cylinder isvprovided with an opening through which one of the rods extends, andeach opening is providedA with a stuiing box 20 or 21, whereby leakageis prevented. The free outer end of each'of these rods is secured to acontinuus cord or wire. 22, which eX- tends around the frame, and atlopposite points 23 and 24 is in engagement with the side balancingplanes3 and`4. Suitable pulleys '25, 26, 27 and 28 are provided in order tochangethe direction of motion of the wire 22. It is obvious thatmovement ,of the -piston in either dirtion will result in movement ofthe' balancing planes in opposite directions, which the result desired,

whereby the balancing orY change in the di- Patented Dec. 5, 19.11.

rection of flight of the machine is secured. The planes may be broughtback to normal by suitably located springs 85.

The coperating means between the pendulum and the cylinder and piston,is a pair of valves 29 `and 30, carried by the cross member 15 of theframe. Each of these valves `(Fig. 3) consists of a lower recessed block31, provided with two transverse openings 32 and 33, into each of whicha tube 34, 35 is tightly engaged. The tubes 34 communicate with theatmosphere and the tubes 35 pass on to any suitable tank (not shown),which oHers a supply of compressed air or gas. It is to be noted thatthe recesses in each ofthe lower blocks is not the same width throughoutthe length of the block, but adjacent the ends thereof it is narrowedwhereby shoulders 36 and 37 result. Each of these blocks is providedwith a top cover piece 38 or 39, provided with openings into which thetubes 40 and 41 are secured, the openings in each lower block 31 and topcover-piece 38 registering. Each pair of tubes 40 and 41 are secured tothe cylinder 16, adjacent each end thereof. Slidably secured in therecess in each of the blocks 31, is a plate 42 provided with an opening43, which opening is adapted to register with the openings 32 and 33into which the tubes 34 and 35 extend, depending on the position of theplate which is determined by the,`

swinging pendulum in one instance and by the spring 44 in the. other.Each ofthe plates is provided with a narrow extending portion 45adjacent one end of the block 31, whereby shoulders 46 and 47 areformed, t-hese shoulders being in engagement with the shoulders 36 and37 in the block 31 when the pendulum is hanging vertically, the spring44 insuring this position. When in this position, the openings 43 in theplate register with the openings 32 in the block and cover piece,whereby the portions of the cylinder 16 on each side of the piston 17are in communication with the atmosphere. The plate 42 when in theopposite position of end of travel, is shown in the right side of Fig.3; the opening 43 in the plate is now registering with the openings inthe block and cover piece to which the tubes 35 and 41 are secured,thereby placing that portion of the cylinder 16 to the right of thepist-on 17 in communication with the source of compressed air or gas. A

The free inner end of each of the .plates 42 is provided with a slot ofa length depending on the desired arc of swing of the pendulum 12, a pin48 carried by the pendulum entering these slots 49,' 50. Figs. 3

'and 4 show the pendulum to the left of the central vertical axis ofVthe machine in which position the pin 48 therein has carried the rightplate 42 to the left position, by reason of the engagement of the pin48with the end portion 51 of this plate. It is obvious that if thependulum is moved back to its central position, the right plate 42 willalso move to ils left position by reason of the spring 44 actingthereon. When the pendulum is in its central vertical position, each ofthe plates is in its position within the block and the pin 48 carried bythe pendu-` lum is in contact with the end parts 51 and 52 of theplates. 42.

When the machine is in flight and in its normal position, the pendulum12 is hanging vertically and the interior of the cylinder 16 on bothlsides of the piston 17 is in communication with the atmosphere. The sidebalancing planes 3 and 4 are horizontal and theV piston 17 occupies acentral position. If the left side of the machine should tip down fromany cause, the pendulum would hang to the left of the central verticalaxis of the machine. In this position (Fig. 4), the right valve plate 42would be moved to the left against the tension of the spring 44 and theportion of the cylinder to the right of the piston would be incommunication with the supply of compressed air through the tubes 35 and41. The portion of the cylinder to the left of the piston will remain incommunication with the atmosphere through the tubes 34 and 40, since theplate 42 of the left valve is not disturbed. Air being admitted to theright portion of the cylinder, the piston 17 will be forced to the left,thereby bringing the side, planes 3 and 4 into the position shown inFig, 4. Then these planes have been moved sufficiently to bring themachine back to normal or horizontal position, the pendulum will takeits position in the central vertical plane of the machine and the rightvalve plate will be drawn to the right by the spring 44, thereby placingthe portion of the cylinder to the right of the piston in communicationwith the atmosphere. The excess pressure in the right portion of thecylinder will fall and the movable planes will come back to their normalhorizontal position. Should the machine subsequently tip to the right,the same procedure would be` gone through but by the left valve in thisinstance.

In turning an aeroplane when in flight, it is desirable to tip themachine slightly toward the side in which the turn is to be made, and mybalancing device` described above may also be used for this purpose. Ifthe aviator wishes to turn to the right, he may swing the pendulum tothe left, thus opening the right valve to the flow of fluid pressurewith the consequent tilting of the machine to the right because of theraising of the plane 4 and the lowering of the plane jlpy the movementof the piston 17 to the From vthe above, it will be seen that I haveprovided a balancingmeans of few parts,

`plate may be normally held ving therein in which is simple vandeffective in operation and one that will automatically keep theaeroplane in a balanced horizontal, position.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A balancing means for an aeroplane having pivoted balancing planes ateach side thereof, comprising. a cylinder having a piston therein' androds extending from each side of the piston and through the ends of thecylinder, means connecting the said extending ends of the said rods, thesaid means being in enga-gement with the said pivoted balancing planes;a pair of tubes extending from one end of the cylinder, a pair of tubesextending from the other end of the cylinder, a recessed block providedwith a cover member carried at each side of the said aeroplane, eachblock being in engagement with each pair of tubes, a slidable plateprovided with an opening carried by each recessed block, a pendulum, theinner ends of each of the said sliding plates being provided with anaperture in engagement with a pin carried by the said pendulum wherebyas the pendulum swings in either direction, either of the said slidingplates will be moved, thereby -placing either end of the said cylinderin communi'- cation with the atmosphere or in communi- 'cation with thesource of pressure, whereby the piston will be moved and with it theivoted planes, whereby the areoplane may ebalar'ed. 2. A balancing meansfor, an aeroplane having pivoted balancin planes at each side thereof,comprising a cy inder having a piston therein and rods extending fromthe piston and through opposite ends of the said cylinder, helical sprins carried by the said rods within the cylincgl being provided withaplurality o tubes extending therefrom at each end thereof, a pluralityof blocks carried by the said aeroplane, one of the bloeks being inengagement with the tubes extending from each end of the said cylinder,a movable member contained withinthe block and provided withgan opening,a source of pressure connected to one of the said tubes, another of thesaid tubes communicating with the atmosphere, means whereby the saidsliding with the open communication with the tube opening into theatmosphere, a pendulum, and means whereby the said sliding plate mayc bemoved so that the opening therein may register with the tubecommunicating with the source of pressure whereby `this pressure maybeapplied to one side of the said piston, the said springs carried withinthe said cylinder on the said rods bringing the pistoniback to a centralposition when the valve has been operated to remove the aforesaidpressure from the cylinder.

er, the c linder,

3. In a balancing means for an aeroplane having-pivoted balancing planesat each side thereof, a pair of blocks provided with a recessed portionhaving a plate slidable therein, each of the said plates containing anopening adapted to register with either one of a plurality of tubes, oneof the said tubes ibeing in communication with the atmosphere and theother communicating with the source of pressure, a pendulum, and means,whereby as the pendulum is swung the said opening in each of the saidmovable plates may be brought 'into register with either of the saidtubes.

4. In a l alancing means for an aeroplane having pivoted balancingplanes at each vside thereof, a pair of blocks at each side of thel saidaeroplane, one block in each of the said pair being provided with alongitudinally extending recessed portion, a plate slidably mounted,within each recessed portion, a plurality of tubes secured to each ofthe blocks of each of the pairs, the tubes lextending from one of theblocks of each pair communicating with one end of a suitable cylinder,one of theother tubes leading from each of the other blocks of each paircommunicating with the atmosphere, the remaining tube extending from thesaid block, each pair communicating with a suitable pressure tank, eachof the said plates being provided with an opening therein adapted toregister with either of the said pipes in the blocks, a pendulum carriedby the frame of the areoplane and midway of the said airs of blocks,each of the .said plates being in engagement with the said pendulum bymeans of a pin and slot connection whereby as the pendulum is swung inone direction one of the said blocks may be moved, the other remainingstationary, and when the pendulum is swung in the opposite direction theother plate may be moved, vthe first plate remainlng stationary, andmeans comprising a spring for holding each of the said plates inposition when the pendulum lies in a central plane.

5. In a balancing means for an aeroplane vhaving pivoted balancingplanes, at each extending slot through which the said pin extends,springs engagin each of the said plates for holding them 1n positionwithin the blocks, movement of the pendulum in one direction moving oneof the plates, and movement of lthe pendulum in the other directionmoving the other of the said plates, name to this specification in thepresence of the springs returning the movled plate to two subscribingWitnesses. normal position When the pendu um is lying in a central planewith the pin therein in HAROLD FOSTER PARKER' 5 engagement with adjacentends of the slots Witnesses: in the said plates. MABEL I. OLIVER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my FRED. W. BURLEIGH.

